Sunrise Tempis: an Illustration of Horse Mating

Updated December 13, 2012: I have removed the water mark so that you can see the drawing better. Additionally this is considered a bio-illustration which does depict a slightly erect penis (fully erect penis does not occur until the next step of mating).

Warning for reproductive anatomy

This is CF One Tempi and Eos Ysabel mating.

I got to thinking, why not start drawing actual behavior in natural breedings. So here we have the stallion Tempi responding to Ysabel.

Animal Behavior behind the Piece
But lets back track a moment because this is not the first step! When horses greet one another they do so typically nose to nose. Now feel free to correct me here, it's been a few years since my college course in natural equine behavior. A sign of a good stallion, is not skipping 'foreplay', which is also called courtship (but that just romanticizes it so much LOL). Like in many mammals, grooming strengthens bonds, and also has a docile effect on the receiving partner. A stallion approaching a mare in estrus (heat) will often nudge, nuzzle, and groom along the mares shoulder and back before checking under the tail. For what ever the reason, this 'grooming' dociles them, and if receptive they stay still. The same technique is used on mares by their foals who are trying to stop her and steal a drink.

Those that have done live cover in a domesticated situation, you're probably quite familiar with the raising of the tail, winking, and 'squirting', which at times is almost instantaneous when mares see a stallion. It always brings a chuckle. Silly silly mares.

In this photo, Tempi has covered his courtship bases and is checking the mare, who promptly assumes breeding stance (rear legs widened), raises her tail, and urinates. Tempi then curls back his upper lip to expose the vomeronasal organ to the sent molecules he breaths in.

This is just the start, right after Ysabel urinates, Tempi would stretch out his neck or raise his head to better sniff. Some stallions are funny to watch doing this cause they crane their neck back so dramatically when head held straight up in the air as if they ran into a wall.

Seconds after confirming estrus, Tempi would become fully erect and mount Ysabel, where the mating, if he gets it right, will take a matter of seconds. Ejaculation can be seen almost instantly, the stallion confirming it with swishing tail (every time the tail swishes he has ejaculated again), and then his body relaxing to balance on the mare, neck typically drooping to the side of her. Some will even doze only to be suddenly woken by crashing to the ground.

When the stallion pulls out, the head of the penis is severely enlarged. This is designed so that the tip is placed against the mares cervix wall, insuring that semen is placed within her uterus.

All you HAPRer's I hope you found it informational!